THE JACKPACK

I've been a typical "guy" lately.  Or, actually, I guess I have the perfect excuse: genetics.  My dad hates writing.  So, there, I'm predisposed to dislike writing.  (Mom likes writing.  So, I guess that's why I'm actually putting this together for you.  A little watering-down of the "hate writing" gene.) What prompted me to write?  Well, I just had one of the best weekends ever.  Here's a perfect timeline of events: Thursday Evening:  Drive to Austin to meet my Aunt K and Uncle C.  Take my "Babcia" out for a fine dining experience at the Trattoria Lysina Winery in honor of her birthday and Mother's Day.  I sipped wine, flirted with the waitress, and blew kisses to the lovely young lady serving gelato.  Ok, I'm just kidding about the wine.  But, that's not to say that I didn't eat some pretty classy stuff: Artichoke fritter thingies, some "calamari," some veal marsala.  I loved the calamari, but after a whil...